H-Beam Sizes (Metric)

Fifty-four European IPE, HEA and HEB sections with their dimensions and mass per metre, in metric and inch units.

Data verified 2026-09-29 · based on EN 10365:2017

Metric H-Sections — IPE, HEA and HEB (EN 10365)

The three series put very different amounts of steel into the same height. At a nominal 200 mm: IPE is 22.4 kg/m with narrow flanges, HEA is 42.3 with wide flanges and a thin web, HEB is 61.3 with wide flanges and a thicker web. All three are 200 mm class sections, and choosing between them is a strength-versus-weight decision rather than a size decision.

IPE is a pure beam profile — narrow flanges, optimised for bending about the strong axis, and weak about the minor axis. It is the lightest way to span a given distance and the hardest to connect to or to use as a column. HEA and HEB are wide-flange profiles: heavier for the same depth, much stronger about the minor axis, and far easier to bolt to. HEB is essentially HEA with a thicker web and flange.

Note that HEA and HEB sections are not their nominal height. HEA 200 is 190 mm deep and HEB 200 is exactly 200 mm. The European convention keys the name to a size class rather than to an exact dimension, which is the opposite of the American S-shape convention. IPE sections, by contrast, are their nominal depth.

Metric and American Sections Are Not Interchangeable

A European HEB and an American W-shape of similar depth are different products, and substituting one for the other changes the capacity of the member.

The flange widths differ, which changes the minor-axis stiffness and the ability of the section to resist lateral-torsional buckling. The fillets differ, so the section properties are not comparable even at equal dimensions. And the tolerance regimes differ — EN 10034 and ASTM A6 specify different permitted variations in depth, flange width and squareness.

Where a metric section must be substituted for an American one, the correct approach is to match on the section properties rather than on the depth: find the W-shape with equivalent Ix, Sx and ry, then check that the connection geometry still works. That usually means moving to a heavier or lighter depth than the original.

The same is true in reverse. A project designed in IPE and built in W-shapes will not match on depth, and the difference in flange width will change both the connection detailing and the lateral stability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does HEB 200 mean?

A wide-flange H-section 200 mm deep from the HEB series, which is the heaviest of the three European series at that height — 61.3 kg/m. HEA 200 is 42.3 kg/m and IPE 200 is 22.4 kg/m. The name gives the size class, not necessarily the exact depth.

What is the difference between IPE, HEA and HEB?

Weight and flange width at the same height. IPE has narrow flanges and is optimised for bending — the lightest option, weakest about its minor axis. HEA has wide flanges and a thin web. HEB is the same as HEA with a thicker web and flange, so it is considerably heavier and stronger.

Is HEB 200 actually 200 mm deep?

Yes, HEB 200 is exactly 200 mm. But HEA 200 is 190 mm, and the discrepancy is characteristic of the European naming — the series name marks a size class rather than guaranteeing the dimension. IPE sections are their nominal depth.

Can I substitute a metric H-beam for an American W-shape?

Only by matching section properties rather than depth. Flange widths and fillets differ, so an equivalent-depth substitution changes both the minor-axis stiffness and the torsional resistance. Match on Ix, Sx and ry, then re-check the connection geometry.

Which European series should I use?

IPE where the member is a simple beam and weight matters. HEA where the member needs a wider flange for connections or minor-axis stiffness. HEB where the highest capacity is needed in a given depth. Where a member is also a column, HEA or HEB is almost always the answer.

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Value Sources

Each data column on this page is tied to the source it came from. The numbers in square brackets correspond to the table headers above.

Data Sources

Cross-checked against:

• Dimensions and masses checked against EN 10365 in series order
• The naming convention verified — HEB sections are exactly nominal height while HEA sections are not
• The three series compared at 200 mm to confirm the expected weight ordering
• Inch conversions recomputed at build time for every row

Derived values — the following values on this page are calculated, not taken directly from the standard:

Dimensions and masses are as published in EN 10365 for the standard sections. Section properties are not given — take them from a European section table. Metric and American sections are not interchangeable at equal depth, because flange widths, fillets and tolerance regimes all differ.

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